Physician Allocation of Medicare Resources for Patients with Advanced Cancer

Abstract

Otolaryngology physicians have significantly different values in end-of-life care than cancer patients and their caregivers. This information is important for efficient allocation of scarce Medicare resources and for effective end-of-life discussions, both of which are key for developing appropriate health policy.

Effect of Physician Perspective on Allocation of Medicare Resources for Patients with Advanced Cancer

“…very little in allocating end-of-life resources. 17 This study demonstrates that the mental exercise of taking the perspective of a patient with cancer does not improve this agreement. While in 3 categories, the assessment 2 allocations became more similar to patient and caregiver allocations, in most categories in which perspective influenced physician allocation, the change was such that the difference was more pronounced.…”

“…We demonstrated in a prior study that OHNS physicians differed significantly in their resource allocations from patients with cancer and their caregivers. 17 Of the 15 different benefit categories, there were significant differences in 14-only in the home care category were there no significant differences. 17 Of the 767 physicians, 237 completed assessment 2.…”

“…17 Of the 15 different benefit categories, there were significant differences in 14-only in the home care category were there no significant differences. 17 Of the 767 physicians, 237 completed assessment 2. Demographic data are displayed in Table 2.…”

Physician and Patient and Caregiver Health Attitudes and Their Effect on Medicare Resource Allocation for Patients With Advanced Cancer

“…9,10 In a previous article, we examined how otolaryngology physicians allocated a fixed pool of Medicare resources among 15 different benefit categories for patients with advanced cancer, and we compared these data with allocations made by patients with cancer and caregivers of patients with cancer obtained from a separate study. 11 We found significant differences in resource allocations when comparing the physician data with pooled data from the patients and caregivers in 14 of the 15 benefit categories. 11 That work was focused on how demographic data (eg, sex, age) collected from physicians, patients, and caregivers affected how these resources were allocated.…”

“…11 We found significant differences in resource allocations when comparing the physician data with pooled data from the patients and caregivers in 14 of the 15 benefit categories. 11 That work was focused on how demographic data (eg, sex, age) collected from physicians, patients, and caregivers affected how these resources were allocated.…”